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EveryFish
Yoyo Loach (Botia almorhae)

Yoyo loach

Freshwater fish with yoyo-shaped markings

Photo: Orishas92, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The yoyo loach is a small freshwater species native to northern India and possibly Nepal. It belongs to the Botiidae family and is popular in aquariums, though often misidentified.

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  • Markings often spell out yoyo
  • Native to Ganges basin
  • Max length 16 cm
  • Often misidentified in trade

What it is

This fish is a member of the Botiidae family, known for its distinctive dark and pale markings. These patterns often resemble the letters 'yoyo', particularly in younger individuals, which gives the species its common name. It grows to a maximum length of about 16 centimetres. The name Almora loach references a location in Uttarakhand, India.

Where it lives

The species inhabits slow-moving or stagnant water bodies within the Ganges river system. Its natural distribution covers northern India and may extend into Nepal. Despite being called the Pakistani loach, this specific taxon is not found in Pakistan, where a different species resides.

Yoyo loach
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Aquarists frequently keep this fish, but many specimens sold under this name are actually other related species. Common substitutes include Botia lohachata or undescribed variants from the Kosi and Teesta rivers. Hybrids are also present in the trade, making accurate identification difficult for hobbyists.

The species names / identity need verification - original names from plate are included here. The original plates showed the fishes facing right and have been flipped here. Botia almorhae
The species names / identity need verification - original names from plate are included here. The original plates showed. Photo: Francis Day, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Yoyo loach

Why is it called the yoyo loach?

The name comes from the dark and pale patterns on its body. These markings often look like the word yoyo, especially on younger fish.

Is this fish found in Pakistan?

No, despite the nickname Pakistani loach, this species is not known from Pakistan. The fish found there is a different species called Botia birdi.

What size does it reach?

Adults typically grow between 14 and 16 centimetres in length, which is roughly 5.5 to 6.3 inches.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Yoyo loach", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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